DOWNTOWN
Looking to the future...
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Regional Alliance for Downtown
inside... Reno Revival
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Downtown Developments
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Downtown District Infographic
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Midtown District
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Arch District
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Old Brewery District
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Liberty District
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University District
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Riverwalk District
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Wells Avenue District
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5355 Kietzke Lane, Suite 100 | Reno, NV 89511 775.770.1173 | www.nnbw.com General Manager James Arden | jarden@nnbw.biz Managing Editor Annie Conway | aconway@nnbw.biz Reporters Sally Roberts | sroberts@nnbw.biz Duane Johnson | djohnson@nnbw.biz Advertising Sales Wayne O’Hara | wohara@nnbw.biz Administrative Assistant Kayla Mullins | kmullins@nnbw.biz Graphic Design Rob Fair | rfair@sierranevadamedia.com Circulation Manager Keith Sampson | ksampson@sierranevadamedia.com Š2015 Northern Nevada Communications LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. For reprint permission, please contact the publisher.
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Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve details her vision for downtown growth and revitalization.
Written by Steve Sinovic | Photos by Brad Coman
H
illary Schieve has an ambitious vision for downtown Reno.
She’d like to see new workforce housing, a grocery store setting up business, a minidepartment store courtesy of a large national chain, more restaurants and entertainment. “Folks want to make downtown a place to work and to live and I think that’s something we have to celebrate,” Schieve said. The mayor, who recently began her second year as the city’s mayor, trumpeted downtown’s resurgence in a recent state-of-the city address. In an interview, she rolled out a litany of pet projects and achievements she said are making the city’s downtown core alluring to educated professionals. They include the UNR Innevation Center, which she hopes will become a haven for knowledge-economy jobs and highly
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revival educated residents, who hopefully will stay in the area and not head for greener pastures after graduation. The good news is that urban living is back, said Schieve, noting that Millenials and others are embracing dense, walkable neighborhoods, with businesses setting up shop to serve those who work, live, shop and play in the area. “We’re seeing (sales and transient occupancy tax) tax revenues rising,” said Schieve, a dramatic turnaround from the recession when the town took it on the chin with its high foreclosure rates and unemployment. Now the region is in the midst of a renaissance, thanks to the expansion of the economy by homegrown companies, new employers and self-employed creatives and techies. The result is greater patronage of community venues that focus on the performing arts,
Her Honor says she’s serious about getting rid of eyesores, earmarking $1 million for a new blight reduction fund. The city already has a dilapidated motel in its sights. Other down-atthe-heels properties could be candidates for the wrecking ball. “I’m very excited about Operation Downtown. It’s a strategic plan to make downtown thrive again, and I’ve been very vocal that if we have to demolish buildings to get there, we will do it.” The mayor says the city is adding seven new code enforcement officers early next year. The city is already scouting for some of the most blatant problem properties. The goal isn’t just to penalize property owners, but to help them be part of the solution. “I think in three years’ time you won’t recognize most of the downtown core,” said Schieve, sporting events operating out of the Reno Aces talking about new players that will hit the scene — perhaps supplanting some of the ballpark and better access to the Truckee River check cashing establishments, pawnbrokers, with the reconstruction of the Virginia Street. and shops selling tchotchkes to tourists. Also, Schieve touts the nascent initiative to A much more dialed in downtown Reno, if you bring a streetcar to downtown Reno. Not only will. is the aim to tie downtown to UNR — but it is envisioned to provide a greater ease of access She spoke of one downtown property owner to Midtown shops — the mayor is a merchant who let a commercial space sit for a while to there herself. attract “the right tenant” — a very swanky barbershop for hipsters. “She wanted She’s also focused on a true turnaround in something a little more upscale,” said Schieve, downtown, which means mitigating Reno’s referring to a business that is a “great amenity” seedier side. She has put together Operation for locals and visitors. Downtown, a group of business people, economic development experts, affordable The mayor and city council should have a housing experts and professionals who work with the mentally ill and the homeless. She said general vision of what they want, but then let the private sector finish it up, she said from a multi-disciplinary approach is key to fixing her office at Reno City Hall. The office mirrors what ails the city’s core. her fun image: it contains a ping-pong table for visitors to let off steam and let their hair down.
“Mayor Hillary Schieve has an upbeat, long-term view of downtown revitalization.”
“I don’t want anyone to think of this as ‘the mayor’s office,’” she smiled, surveying her domain. “I try not to think of myself as a politician but as someone who is Reno’s biggest booster,” said the retailer, who is unabashedly the city’s cheerleader in chief. continued on page 6
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Mayor, continued from page 5 “But this isn’t the Hillary Schieve Show,” she is quick to remind a visitor, giving credit to staff members, citizens and others who share her vision of a town that she considers the Next Great American City. While the mayor agrees that gaming properties have done a good job of keeping downtown viable with gaming, hotels, entertainment and restaurants, locals and university students need shopping with some great brand names. Schieve said she’d like to see a commercial development that brought in a miniaturized department store, perhaps in a dilapidated building needing some love.
The mega department stores are not trying to come in, she said. But something more scaled back would act as a hub and uplift all the other stores. “We need an anchor like that,” Schieve said. “All the redeveloped downtowns have an anchor coming in,” such as a Target store with a grocery section. “I like a challenge,” said the mayor, who said she’s on board with future commercial ventures, but again wants private enterprise to do the heavy lifting. “I live in a wonderful community where people want to help and make things better,” she said of the opportunities ahead. ● Former Mayor Bob Cashell pops in for an impromptu visit with his successor.
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2016 New Year Kick Off January 21st, 2016 at The Old Downtown Post Office
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Developer readies next projects
DOWNTOWN A
fter more than a decade heading up suburban development ventures in northwest Reno, Blake Smith is back at it.
But these days, he’s more of a downtown guy. After hitting some rocky patches during the recession, Smith’s business clearly has right-sized and the affable developer has set his sights on the Virginia Street corridor in the city’s urban core, where he is scaling up work on several mixed-use and residential projects. Smith, a longtime developer in Reno, oversaw creation of the award-winning Somersett master-planned community and then the “world fell apart,” he confided, talking about financial woes that beset his business — and saw staffing levels go from 27 to two employees. He’s happy to report that the employee roster has since rebounded. The fourth-generation Nevadan — some of whose grit came from a maternal grandfather who worked on the Hoover Dam in the Depression to put bread on the table — said it took several years to resolve financial setbacks, courtesy of the Great Recession. “We cleaned everything up with the debtors,” he said without going into too much detail, but happy to have that part of his work life behind him. Thinking about his next chapter, Smith said, “all the development momentum was headed back to the urban core” and he wanted to be part of the action. “People like the body heat,” said Smith unabashedly of a downtown that’s increasingly more pedestrian friendly and not a ghost town after 6 p.m. each day. “Timing was good,” said Smith of the large amount of projects the firm has taken on in recent years, most notably the purchase of the nearly 100,000-square-foot office building at One East Liberty. With acquisition financing of $5 million from two backers, he sunk a ton of money in upgrading the property, such as lobby renovations and office and retail space, increasing the tenancy
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Written by Steve Sinovic
at the high rise, which had a 50 percent occupancy when he took ownership. “We even built a plaza and lured Starbucks” to set up shop, said Smith, gesturing to the coffee purveyor that “has become a gathering place and amenity to this area (the Liberty District).” His business day is focused largely on the renaissance of the Midtown and Downtown neighborhoods in the heart of Reno. “We are sunsetting on Somersett,” said Blake of the high-end master-planned community he spent years developing. This past summer, he recently announced the formation of our new business — S3 Development Company. “While we have developed and operated under the Somersett project for the past 15 years, with our current and new developments exceeding Somersett now, I felt it time to rebrand ourselves to a more encompassing brand,” said Smith. S3 Development is a development holding company with multiple projects under it. During a recent interview in One East Liberty, the building he acquired from U.S. Bancorp, Smith and a visitor had a bird’s eye view of blocks, once seedy and down-at-the-heels, which are slated for revitalization. An 11-home project is planned by Smith at the corner of Sinclair and Stewart streets. The homes, a combination of duplex units and bungalows, will be next to the new University of Nevada, Reno, Innevation Center. “We’re already getting calls from people who want to buy one of the homes, and we haven’t even started construction. Midtown clearly is the market that’s most in demand in Reno,” said Smith, whose S3 Development Co. is creating the project to be known as “Midtown Lofts.” Blake Smith has a hand in many recent major projects.
M2 Construction/HomeCrafters, a long-respected residential builder owned by Reno’s Troy and Travis Means, has already begun construction. The first homes will be ready for occupancy next spring. Architect Michael McGonagle created the design of two-story bungalows, each with a patio, and two-story duplexes that feature mezzanines and rooftop decks. “The bright and vibrant design fits well with the busy lifestyle of Midtown,” said Smith. “Midtown Lofts will be home to people who are filled with life and fully engaged with the world and their friends.” The homes, a mix of rental and for-sale units, will range from 825 to 1,960 square feet. Each includes a parking garage. Midtown Lofts is the first of three projects in the Midtown area planned by S3 Development Co. One commercial project underway will be called 1401 Midtown. Renovation of the building, which used to house Heritage Bank, marks another large step in the revitalization of Virginia Street corridor. Smith said the company’s plans include transforming the 1950s-era property by “re-skinning” the exterior with new wood and metals after removing the dated stucco material. Thankfully, the interior of the 9,000-square-foot building offers the opportunity to exhibit “the beautiful red brick” in a structure that features 28-foot-high ceilings. The Smith team plans to add an additional 12,000 square feet. More than 70 percent of the property is already pre-leased to commercial tenants, at the site, which will feature office space, retail stores and restaurants. With one acre of property to get creative with, Smith said he will add eight “really cool townhouses” behind the mixed-use part of the project. The housing portion is tentatively called Tonopah Lofts. Growth in the area, asserts Smith, is not a fad but the shape of things to come for many residents, millenials and Baby Boomer downsizers, who are trading the suburbs for city life. Having a hand in the major development projects as downtown Reno continues to grow will offer even more opportunities, said Smith. He said the company “has stuff in escrow now” but wasn’t ready to make an official announcement. Smith is keeping an eye on the Park Lane Mall property, has expressed interest to the owners, but said the price isn’t right for what now is a big empty lot. “This area could be another downtown,” said Smith. Its 30 acres are a gem “screaming for mixed use.” Clearly the aim for developers is to build higher and denser in the downtown core area, said Smith. New buildings or old and given the froth in the market, he said some tenants might see big jumps in rates at renewal time from property owners looking to get more than the current tenants can afford. Perhaps Virginia Street will see fewer tattoo parlors, check cashing stores and dive bars in the next few years, he said as new residents look for the next level of support service businesses.
People could be asking for a grocery store, a yoga studio, a coffee shop, a wine and cheese purveyor, or a doggie day care center. “This is all legitimate interest because developers can see another 1,000 residents will be downtown in the next few years.” ●
Streetcar idea looks to gain traction The Virginia Street corridor could someday look much like the 1920s — in a good way. Bringing back trolleys is the goal of the Reno Streetcar Coalition, an issue that resonates with developer Blake Smith, who would like to see another mobility option in the city’s fast-growing downtown, historic neighborhoods and the region’s premier institution of higher learning. The heyday of Reno’s electric streetcar was from Thanksgiving Day in 1904 to September 1927. It was replaced by bus service. “The streetcar project (we are envisioning) will serve as another catalyst to drive economic development in the historic core of the city,” said Smith, chairman of the coalition, which has supporters like Mayor Hillary Schieve. Smith said streetcars, which operate with transit agency subsidies, fare box revenues and merchant district assessments, are rolling in greater numbers in many close-in city neighborhoods across country, and are popular with residents, visitors, students and business owners. “Merchants love them,” said Mayor Schieve, who used to operate a retail store in the city’s popular Midtown neighborhood. Getting the Regional Transportation Commission on board to incorporate streetcars in its Virginia Street Project is the first stop, said Smith. An ideal route for the first phase of the project, which he estimates could cost under $5 million, would be from the UNR campus to Plumb Lane. Roads would have to be configured to handle the batterypowered vehicles, plus there is the cost of the streetcars themselves, said Smith, who said an economic windfall has been quantified anytime streetcars hit the road. When streetcars or trolley service is implemented, it usually prompts an increase in investment along their service routes. For more information, go to renostreetcarcoalition.com. “I think it is something we should seriously shoot for,” said Smith, now generating public support. He’d like to see the first ones rolling by 2017.
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Written by Sally Roberts
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The Marmot Properties office at the corner of Sinclair and Moran Streets is one of the first houses the company renovated. Courtesy Marmot Properties
MIDTOWN RENAISSANCE spreads to homes T he founders of Marmot Properties are helping revitalize the residential center of Midtown, one dilapidated house at a time.
The corner of Sinclair and Moran streets, just east of South Virginia Street, is Ground Zero for the transformation. On that corner, the Marmot offices occupy one of the first houses renovated by the company. “We’ve bought and rehabilitated well over 100 units in Midtown, since before it was (called) Midtown,” said Eric Raydon, who began Marmot in 2009 with his brothers Bryan and Gary. In December 2015 alone, 14 new units will open for tenants on both sides of South Virginia. The brothers all have a background in real estate and used the Great Recession as a springboard to change directions and pursue a passion for urban rehabilitation. Their goal is to get more people living in Midtown. “The more people you have in there that care about Reno and care about Midtown, the better,” Raydon said. “One way to get them to care is to treat them like humans.” With help from their backers, the Raydon brothers purchase everything from individual houses, 12-plex apartments, even whole blocks. “We want to buy the crappiest properties in either a good or great neighborhood or what was a great neighborhood,” Raydon said. Quoting his brother Bryan, he said “if it doesn’t make me feel a little sick when going into a property, it doesn’t feel like we’ve got a great deal.” During a walking tour of the blocks around Ground Zero, Eric and Bryan Raydon pointed out houses and apartment complexes in various stages of dismantling, reconstruction and finish work. Interspersed with descriptions of the before state of each building and the vision for it when completed,
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they talked to dozens of construction workers who passed on updates about progress and complications.
In between construction zones, the Raydons pointed out houses previously refurbished, fenced, landscaped and now occupied. To discourage graffiti, paintings by recognized street artists (not taggers) now cover walls and fences. It’s working. In a district once pockmarked with drug houses, trash and crime, neat yards and bright entrances welcome new residents into modern homes in the core of Old Reno. Marmot Properties divides large houses into townhouses and duplexes. When lots are extra large, they subdivide and build additional units from the ground up. Eric Raydon said most of their tenants are Millennials and empty-nesters who prefer the low-maintenance of small rentals and proximity to the action Downtown. Marmot Properties is as much a property management firm as it is a renovator. Depending on the business goals of their investors, they hang on to a property for a year to 10-plus years. “We’re not flippers. The vast majority (of houses) we keep long term. We buy, redevelop, rehabilitate and hold,” Raydon said. “We’re very committed to the community. We’re not going anywhere. God willing, we’ll be doing this another 20 years,” he said. The Raydon brothers aren’t alone in their efforts to revitalize Midtown. Interspersed between Marmot Properties’ projects are houses and apartments being renovated by third generation Nevadan and Somersett developer, Blake Smith, through his S3 Development Company, LLC.
Along the business corridors of Midtown on South Virginia and Center streets, new dining, entertainment, retail, yoga and other services are springing up — gathering places for Millennials and entrepreneurs drawn to Midtown. The businesses also enhance the neighborhood for those who live there. At 777 Center Street, contractor Shaheen Beauchamp Builders, recently completed renovations to the former Maytan Music store for developer Sperry Van Ness. Tenants are beginning to move in.
by Bernie Carter’s 701 South Virginia LLC, is filled with an eclectic variety of restaurants and retail shops. “It’s gratifying to see the things that we thought of years ago coming to fruition,” Carter said about how Midtown has changed and people are drawn to the district to shop and dine. He described recently watching a man playing outside with his young son in Midtown. “That wouldn’t have happened five years ago. ●
Nearby, the Sticks at Midtown complex occupies the north half of the 700 block of South Virginia Street. The development
Two Chicks hatches success in Midtown
Haley Wood and Jessie Watnes started their stand-alone restaurant concept, Two Chicks, leaving behind a previous venture, GourMelt mobile food truck.
Written by Duane Johnson | Photo by Annie Conway Haley Wood and Jessie Watnes, among the pioneers in the mobile culinary scene in the Truckee Meadows, have traded their wheels for a more traditional bricks-and-mortar concept. The pair used to travel throughout the area promoting their GourMelt mobile food truck, but have since sold their mobile business for a new venture, Two Chicks Restaurant located at 752 S. Virginia Street in Reno’s Midtown district. It was always their goal to open a stationary eatery, with the possibility of using the mobile food truck to augment the business plan. However, when they started out, it was in the midst of the recession, making a storefront property unrealistic at the time. “It was really hard to get anybody to fund us at the time,” Wood said. “So we saved our money, and borrowed from our friends and family to be able to rent the truck. We saved enough money to rent a space.” Wood and Watnes brainstormed different restaurant concepts before deciding to go with the “Two Chicks” formula. They set plans to sell the mobile truck and hunt for the right location for their new enterprise. “Midtown felt very right to us,” Wood recalled. One day, they drove down to eat at Chuy’s (Mexican Kitchen) and, as luck would have it, saw the property manager named Bernie Carter. Within two days, they arranged a lease. They used revenue from GourMelt, the truck sale and help from friends and family to fund the restaurant. The business, which opened in August 2014, serves breakfast and lunch daily from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. The grilled cheese sandwich, the staple of the former GourMelt, is also on the menu. Two Chicks tries to buy all its ingredients locally, from its breads, eggs and dairy products, as well as coffee. It also offers a full bar on tap, rotating a selection of local beers and liquor daily. “That’s another concept that we have —a full bar, which not a lot of other places like ours have,” Wood said. As for its décor, the restaurant stays with its poultry namesake, presenting a setting of a chicken coop. There is a spraying of chicken wire and corrugated metal to emphasize
an industrial/barnyard feel. (Initially) “We were calling this Chicken Coop Chic, so it has an industrial feel with a retro diner style,” Wood said. Normally, it employs about 15 people. Wood, who studied graphic arts at Truckee Meadows Community College, handles all of Two Chicks’ marketing while Watnes handles the bookkeeping. Wood designed and sells T-shirts that adorn the restaurant’s walls. Two Chicks also takes advantage of social media, avenues, including Facebook and Twitter. In the year since Two Chicks’ opening, Wood said the restaurant has exceeded its original projections for the year, averaging about 200 customers a day on weekdays while averaging 380 on weekends. Craig Macy, CEO of OnStream, said the establishment provides a quality hangout for business meetings and networking opportunities. Macy, who came from Silicon Valley, said good business hangouts are the norm there. “I go there about three times a week, and there’s not one time when there’s not someone I can network with,” Macy said. “It has all the necessary elements. The food is consistent. It has enough seating and you’re not crammed together. It’s an environment that’s appropriate for both the funky little startups or even the experienced venture capitalists.” Two has also garnered local and national recognition. They were named Top 3 brunch eatery in Reno by MostBest.com, a Web site that identifies the best restaurants, nightlife and hotels in any given city. ●
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The Arch District is the heart of downtown and the main gaming district. Photo by Sally Roberts/NNBW
New players join forces in the
ARCH DISTRICT
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he Arch District is the beating heart of Reno’s Downtown. For half a century the casino corridor energized the Biggest Little City in the World, welcoming visitors with its iconic arch since the 1930s.
In more recent years, hardships sickened the Downtown economy. Indian casinos in California syphoned off gaming business, the economic staple of the area. The Great Recession followed. Casinos and hotels closed and decay crept in in all but the healthiest resorts in the Arch District. Today, Reno is beginning to heal with new energy flowing into the Arch District, bringing a diversity of reasons for people to spend time Downtown. “Reno had too many casinos,” said Gary Carano, CEO of Eldorado Resorts. “Those (casinos) that closed are now becoming beautiful condominiums. (Unique) restaurants and bars are slowly migrating from Midtown to Downtown.” More people now live Downtown in upscale urban apartments and condominiums such as the Belvedere, which replaced the closed Sundowner casino, and The Montage, on the site of the former Flamingo/Golden Phoenix.
Written by Sally Roberts
New hotel options include the Whitney Peak Hotel, on the former Fitzgerald’s site, with 310 hotel rooms, fine dining, the Cargo Concert Hall, but no gaming. In a Millennial-style twist, Whitney Peak offers a 164foot rock-climbing wall on its façade facing North Virginia Street and the Reno Arch. For some Downtowners, the most exciting transformation underway is to the long derelict Kings Inn at 3rd and West streets. Originally constructed in 1974, it closed in 1986. Since then, according to the city’s Community Development department, it has gone through at least two bankruptcies, plus probate, before finally being purchased in 2014 by Bentar Development, headed by Las Vegas developer Amador “Chi Chi” Bengochea. Over the past year, the Kings Inn has been dismantled nearly to its skeleton in preparation for its transformation into 94 luxury apartments to be known as the 3rd Street Flats. Former Mayor Bob Cashell made ridding the city of the yellow eyesore one of his priorities but it wasn’t until near the end of his term that the property sold. Work began after his successor, Hillary Schieve, took office. Carano commended both mayors and the city council for their efforts to revitalize the Downtown.
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“We’re trending up... These are exciting times we haven’t experienced in a long time. The local market is growing. The regional market (where Reno’s customers live) is growing.” “Cashell did a lot of good,” he said, and “Mayor Schieve is bringing vibrant energy” to Downtown. A priority for city and business representatives alike is to clean up downtown while also caring for the down and out of the community. “How do we tackle and take care of the genuinely needy families that need assistance in the community?” he said, noting the team of people tackling the issue includes Mayor Scheive and his sister, Cindy Carano. “They’re helping address the issues of safety, security, cleanliness,” he said. “For Downtown, cleanliness is next to godliness for us.” As the Arch District gets a facelift, there’s also room for more fun, outdoor activities. Between Whitney Peak and the Eldorado Resort Casino rests an open space looking for an identity. Known as the ReTRAC Plaza, or sometimes simply as The Lids, the generally barren concrete and grass area covers train tracks that formerly divided Downtown until they were lowered into trenches more than a decade ago. The goal is for The Lids to feature something comparable to Union Square in San Francisco, Carano said. “How can (the ReTRAC Plaza) be transformed into usable areas for special events that are also pleasing to the eye?” Carano asked. Temporary events have already found a place at the ReTRAC Plaza, including the inaugural Reno Sculpture Fest last May, as well as outdoor concerts, art fairs, and summer markets. Plans for a permanent feature for the ReTRAC Plaza have ranged from creating a retail space for boutique shops and dining, a central area for food trucks, a transportation hub, and more. The hunt continues.
While the most visible changes in the Arch District focus on non-gaming buildings and activities, new energy is also flowing into the casino-resorts themselves. “We’re trending up,” Carano said. “These are exciting times we haven’t experienced in a long time. “The local market is growing. The regional market (where Reno’s customers live) is growing.” Carano is on the cutting edge of the biggest change to the Downtown casino scene. In December of this year, Eldorado Resorts acquired full ownership of the Circus Circus Reno Hotel & Casino and the Silver Legacy Resort Casino. The three-casino complex has been linked by covered skyways and interconnected ownerships almost since their beginnings. Now Eldorado Resorts owns outright more than 4,100 hotel rooms and 20 restaurants across nine city blocks in the Arch district, providing new promotional opportunities. “Doubling down in Reno couldn’t come at a better time,” Carano told the NNBW at the time of the acquisition, referring to the region’s stronger economy. The Downtown casinos don’t operate in a vacuum. Their owners know that banding together to promote The Biggest Little City in the World helps everyone. “We’ll continue to do what these three properties and Harrah’s have done for years,” Carano said. “Partner and promote the Reno Events Center with the (Reno Sparks Convention and Visitors Authority).” At the north end of the Arch District, the Reno Events Center is beginning to live up to expectations and secure bigger name acts, such as Carrie Underwood, who is slated to appear in April. The partners also work together to promote Reno’s major special events such as Hot August Nights, Street Vibrations and the Brews & Blues festival. “We have to all buy in to participating (in the events) or Virginia Street can’t be closed off to traffic” to make room for the activities, Carano said. Working together to make the Arch District and the rest of Downtown a better place to live, dine, shop and find entertainment is paying off. “We always celebrated living in Reno because we love where we live,” Carano said. “It’s also more exiting to work in Reno.” ●
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From left, Brandon Wright, brewmaster distiller, Chris Shanks, business manager and Justin Stafford, restaurant manager, pose for a photo re-enacting a photo taken when The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery was still just concerete and wood bones.
Written by Annie Conway
Photo by Michael Higdon
Something’s brewing in the
H
OLD BREWERY DISTRICT T
ome to many one-of-a-kind Reno businesses such as Louis Basque Corner and Lincoln Lounge, the Old Brewery District is seeing a rebirth with the addition of new breweries and businesses joining the area.
The district is defined as the area along East Fourth Street from Virginia Street to Morrill Avenue. It has been described as “edgy” with its old architecture and collection of craft distilleries, pubs, nightclubs and restaurants. “The Old Brewery District has great art, food, lots of parking, entertainment and great beer,” said Mike Steedman, owner of Studio on 4th and longtime advocate for downtown neighborhoods. One of the most notable new breweries in the area is The Depot Craft Brewery Distillery. It is located next to Louis Basque Corner at 325 East Fourth Street. Co-owners Chris Shanks and Brandon Wright gave new life to the more than 100-year-old train depot by converting the building into a restaurant, brewery and distillery, which opened on New Year’s Eve of 2014.
across the city including Lincoln Lounge, Studio on Fourth and Morris Burner Hotel in the Old Brewery District.
“The Off Beat Music Festival was great for the Brewery District,” Steedman said. “It pushed a lot of local venues.” According to Steedman, sporting events also draw people to the district. The west edge of the Old Brewery District is home to Reno Events Center and the Aces Stadium. Concerts, the Reno Bighorns, the Reno Aces and the Reno Ice Rink at the ballpark draw the public to the area throughout the year. And soon Reno will have a new team. This year, the Reno Aces announced a new partnership with the United Soccer League to bring a professional soccer team to Reno starting in 2017. The team will play at Ace’s Stadium from March to September when the baseball team has away games.
And construction on new breweries is underway.
According to Steedman, sporting events and other entertainment are good for the businesses in the area as many fans will grab a bite to eat or visit a brewery before or after the games.
Jesse Corletto and Patrick Ogle are the new owners of the long time vacant Alpine Glass Company building located across from The Depot on 324 E. Fourth St. Corletto and Ogle are working on converting the building into a brewery and lofts which are scheduled to be competed by the end of 2016.
One of these businesses is craft beer bar Mellow Fellow. It is located on 300 East 2nd St., across from the ballpark in the space that was previously occupied by Slice of the Peak. The business opened in March 2015 and is co-owned by husband and wife Ryan and Kasey Eller.
The Lake Tahoe Brewing Company is currently in the process of constructing their fourth location next to The Depot, The business currently has locations in Carson City and Fernley and will be opening their third location in Truckee, Calif. “With the additions of Reno Brewery and Lake Tahoe Brewery, it’s really going to solidify the district and take us all to the next level,” Steedman said. The art scene in the Old Brewery District is also evolving. This year, the Biggest Little City hosted The Off Beat Arts and Music Festival for the first time. The four-day event showcased northern Nevada’s growing music, art and culinary scenes. Regional and national bands preformed at local businesses
“They brew some of the best selection of beers in town,” Steedman said. The district also boasts a variety of ethnic restaurants to choose from. “There are a lot of places to choose from,” Steedman said. “From Basque and Ethiopian to Greek (cuisine).” The district is working on creating a map that will highlight all the breweries specifically in the district. Steedman hopes the district will start having their own events to draw more people to the area and to work with RTC to get more bus routes to the Old Brewery District. “(The district) is going to get better and better,” Steedman said. ●
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Regional Alliance for Downtown
Written by Amanda Horn
The Nevada Museum of Art’s entire 4th level has been renamed the Fred W. Smith Penthouse and will include a 4,800 squarefoot Nightingale Sky Room. The Sky Room features a state-of-the art banquet kitchen and retractable floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow for the creation of an open air environment. Photo by Chris Holloman
T THE LIBERTYis DISTRICT fueling Reno’s innovation N
estled between the Riverwalk and Midtown, in the heart of the Biggest Little City, sits Reno’s professional and cultural hub: the Liberty District. Geographically, the district comprises Liberty Street from Arlington to Wells Avenue. In addition to more than 1.7 million square feet of professional buildings, the area boasts the Nevada Museum of Art, Donald W. Reynolds Center for the Visual Arts, E. L. Wiegand Gallery as well as the Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum. Other cultural centers— namely arte italia and Sundance Books and Music—populate nearby streets. More than a geographic destination, Liberty District is a mindset. Discovering the area’s identity has been the topic of much conversation over the last year as stakeholders reflect upon the vibrant energy pulsating along the Liberty corridor.
“Liberty District. I like the sound of it,” says David Walker, executive director and CEO of the Nevada Museum of Art. “It has an elevated quality to it, a gravitas. You can really picture what it is.” Walker, a Los Angeles native, correlates what’s happening in the neighborhood with LA’s Grand Avenue project. Anchored by Grand Park and vast walkable greenspace, the area houses professional office towers, condominiums, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA Grand Avenue), Disney Concert Hall, The Broad Museum, the Colburn School, and will soon welcome a boutique hotel. While Reno and LA possess diverse qualities, the mixeduse, high-end, culturally fueled development provides an interesting model to observe as Reno rebounds. Developments like the much anticipated Nightingale Sky Room, Stacie Mathewson Sky Plaza, Fred W. Smith Penthouse atop the Nevada Museum of Art indicate that the Liberty District is elevating its personae. “Our neighborhood has a demand for a special event venue,” said Walker. The Sky Room is an expression of our belief in good architecture and design. A district is characterized by its buildings. The Museum is creating the most dramatic, state-of-the-art special event venue in all of northern Nevada.”
The name nods to Reno’s past, the beloved Sky Room that once stood atop the elegant Mapes Hotel. The venue will be available year-round for private events, weddings, retreats, and community activities, making it a new northern-Nevada landmark. The 4,800-square-foot walled space features a banquet kitchen and retractable floor-to-ceiling glass walls that allow for the creation of an open air environment, complemented by nearly 5,000 square feet of patio space. Another new development in the Liberty District this past year is the opening of the University of Nevada, Reno, Innevation Center, powered by Switch, a self-described “transformational technology idea engine.” The Innevation Center aims to nurture collaboration between students, entrepreneurs, businesses, investors and non-profits. A combination of open workspace, conference rooms, and a maker space with a plethora of 3D printers and other design tools, the Innevation’s mission is to provide a hub where ideas incubate and hatch into thriving businesses. Asta Ratliff, executive assistant in UNR’s Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation and interim director for Innevation, says it’s critical to vet those who seek to occupy space. “We’re still in the infancy stages, as far as figuring out what’s the best model,” said Ratliff. “We’re trying not to put ourselves into a box. We want to make sure that we’re serving the community and the users according to their needs.” Mat Sinclair, MPA, executive director for The Discovery, says the addition of the Innevation Center to the Liberty District—directly across the street from the science-oriented museum—has already fostered collaboration, evidenced by the Monster Fish exhibit. continued on page 23
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Silver and Blue Outfitters’ newest brick-and-mortar store is located across from UNR’s campus at 1505 N. Virginia St. Photo courtesy of Silver and Blue Outfitters
Businesses expand into
UNIVERSITY DISTRICT Written by Annie Conway
F
rom coffee shops to Wolf Pack apparel retailers, the University District is attracting new businesses to the area as the enrollment of students at the University of Nevada, Reno continues to increase.
Silver and Blue Outfitters, a Wolf Pack apparel and accessories retailer, officially opened their second store in the University District in early November 2015. The new store is located directly across from Lawlor Events Center and the UNR campus at 1505 N. Virginia St. Mark Glodowski and Brad Platt, UNR graduates and avid Wolf Pack fans, co-own the business. They acquired the building April 2015 and signed a tenyear lease for the 2,900-square-foot store. The building was previously used as a day care center and was in need of major renovations to convert it to retail use. Glodowski and Platt worked with the landlord of the building to add $150,000 of renovations to the property. The new store is an expansion of their original location at the Meadowood Mall, which opened in 2008. The business gives UNR students and faculty 15 percent off discounts. Students and faculty also now have a new coffee shop in the neighborhood. Locally owned Hub Coffee Roasters, located at 941 North Virginia St., opened its University Shop in November 2015. Hub Coffee Roasters is part of a project called Urban@ Ubiversity, which is being developed by Urban Real Estate Investments, a real estate group that specializes in adaptive reuse projects. They are renovating three buildings located on Virginia and 10th Street. In addition to Hub Coffee Roasters, the buildings will house Mill Juice Shop, Laughing Planet Café and the Dropout Bike Shop.
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Regional Alliance for Downtown
According to Paddy Egan, president of Urban Real Estate Investments, this adaptive reuse project for the buildings has been in development for more than 10 years. “The businesses reflect who Reno and who the University of Nevada, Reno are,” Egan said of the four businesses. Construction on the project started in March of 2015 and the contractor on the project is West Coast Contractors of Nevada, Inc. The Mill Juice Shop and Dropout Bike Shop are scheduled to be complete by the end of 2015 and construction for Laughing Planet Café is scheduled to be complete by February 2016. Another project underway is a new building for the United Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC). USAC is a non-profit consortium of universities in the U.S. that provides short- and long-term study abroad programs around the world. The organization is in the process of building an annex on 1317 N. Virginia St., located just north of the closed Wolf Den. According to USAC CEO and President Carmello Urza, they are working with VanWoert Bigotti Architects and United Construction to build a new three-story, 9,000-plus square foot building. While the organization will still maintain offices in its current location in the Old Virginia Street Gym on the University’s campus, the new building will provide more room for their staff of 55 people and allow the non-profit to grow. UNR sold the property to USAC in 2014 and USAC tore down the house that occupied the land to make room for the new building. “We are enormously grateful to Mark Johnson and the University for helping us (acquire the property),” Urza said. The completion date for the project is to be determined but Urza anticipates that the staff will be able to move in before the end of 2016. ●
‘
Y
Written by Marc Johnson
The Mathewson-IGT Knowledge Center and the Joe Crowley Student Union are located in the heart of the UNR campus. The University’s Master Plan seeks to further connect the University with downtown for a renewed sense of engagement with the Reno community. Photo courtesy the University of Nevada, Reno.
The University as
‘GATEWAY’ to community transformation R
emarkable transformation has characterized our University’s story over the past several years, as we have experienced record enrollment, retention and graduation by our students, record productivity by our faculty, and perhaps just as importantly, a renewed sense of collaboration and engagement with our community.
This has led to an intense and productive period of planning. Working together, the University and the City of Reno now share in a vision that promises to further enhance downtown revitalization efforts and to permanently embed an ecosystem of knowledge-based innovation and industry in our community. A key milestone in this effort occurred in December 2014 when the Nevada System of Higher Education Board of Regents approved both the University’s Master and Strategic Plans. The University’s Strategic Plan lays out a bright future our institution, one where we will continue to draw focus on ways to fulfill the three, key University missions of learning, discovery and engagement. The Master Plan was historic in that it brought together our institution, the City of Reno and the Regional Transportation Commission for the first time in developing a compelling plan for the future.
University academic and residential buildings – that will help remove past boundaries, either real or imagined, that have traditionally separated campus from downtown. Thanks to the momentum created by the University Gateway concept and our Master Plan, we are already seeing impressive gains being made in economic diversification and community engagement. Earlier this fall, the University officially opened the Innevation Center, Powered by Switch. Located near the downtown core, this facility is proving pivotal in helping our faculty conduct cutting-edge research while augmenting northern Nevada’s efforts to spin out new companies in the advanced manufacturing sector. As the past few years of planning and partnership can attest, the benefits of building connection with the City are clearly worth the effort. When there is a strong bond between a community and its university, where there is a free flow of talent and resources, where geography is seen not as a barrier but as fertile ground for sewing partnership and recognizing common goals, there is always the potential to have a dramatic impact on the social and economic well-being of a region. ●
The Master Plan expands our campus most notably to the south, with intentions to connect the University tangibly with the City of Reno. The plan envisions an expansion of the campus footprint one block south to I-80 and to the west edge of Evans Avenue, along with coordinated private development south of the Interstate to downtown Reno. The creation of this “University Gateway” stretching from our campus into downtown will feature new traffic patterns that will emphasize multi-modal transportation as well as the development of businesses and buildings – including
Marc Johnson is president of the University of Nevada, Reno.
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RIVERWALK Q&A
Scott Dunseath, the owner of Reno eNVy, serves as president of The RiverWalk Merchant Association.
What are RiverWalk’s priorities in the year ahead? Our priorities are to continue to attract more business to the region and to promote the district as a safe, family friendly place for the community to gather and enjoy. Beautification and pride in our River and surrounding areas are also very important to us. We have partnered with KTMB, (Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful) and work closely with them on beautification and cleanup initiatives in the District. Our newest and most exciting initiative is taking a lead role in connecting the University to Downtown. As a merchant group we are the ones that have the ability and capacity to make this happen. The RiverWalk has been working closely with Student Body president Caden Fabbi and the Associated Students of the University of Nevada (ASUN) on ways in which we can engage the students of the University with the businesses and merchants in the RiverWalk. We have put together a discount program for students with participating merchants. This student discount program will be featured on the ASUN web site, RiverWalk website and on our printed collateral. We have been working with the student marketing team and have developed “Pack Friendly Business” stickers that will be distributed and prominently displayed at all participating businesses. We have also launched our sips for students program, where you can pay it forward by purchasing a coffee or a small bite for a student in advance. We are also going to dedicate two of our monthly Wine Walks to “Back the Pack” one in the spring and the other in the fall. Participants will be encouraged to wear their Silver and Blue and a portion of our proceeds will go to the John Mackay Endowment Fund, which goes directly back to students who have financial need.
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Regional Alliance for Downtown
Give us a sense of the RiverWalk membership? At present we have 65 members and counting and those members fall into 6 categories, Shop, Eat, Drink, Enjoy, Live and Service. We are very excited about the many new business that are choosing to open their doors in the RiverWalk District. One in particular is The Basement project at 50 South Virginia St. located in the historic 1933 U.S. Post office building. The Basement will be home to at least 10 new businesses that will all contribute to a more vibrant and eclectic downtown, while showcasing one of our most prized architectural gems.
More people seem to be shopping and dining in downtown areas. What do you think is driving that? I think it is a number of things, first and foremost is the economy. Downtown’s success comes from the combination of locals and tourists and as the economy improves more tourists are coming to Reno and they, along with the locals who have continued to patronize the area, are spending their money a little more freely. There also has been and continues to be significant development in downtown and the RiverWalk. People have more options for dinning, shopping and entertainment then they have had in decades.
Is there a residential aspect of the RiverWalk district? The residents of the RiverWalk district are one of our most valuable assets and vital to the success of the businesses downtown. These are the folks who on a daily basis support the merchants and business downtown. There is a wide range of living spaces from places like the Montage, & Palladio to the Plaza on the River, Colonial Garden Court and The Ross Apartments. The breadth of residential housing in the RiverWalk is wide and offers options for a variety of needs. As the Downtown continues to grow and thrive, we see more and more people moving out of the suburbs and back to the city center and we anticipate much more residential housing and options in the future.
What are your responsibilities as president of the merchant association?
Do you plan to add more events to the RiverWalk calendar to create more buzz?
There is the administrative stuff that any association has to deal with, Board meetings, managing budgets, and executive committees. etc. The president is the face and voice of the association, so there are public obligations that must be attended and relationships that need to be maintained. What I enjoy doing most is working with merchants who are neighbors and friends and who are passionate about making downtown a better place for themselves and this community. I love developing partnerships and collaborations like we are doing with the University and Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful.
Our plan is to continue to focus and improve on the events that we know work for us. The monthly wine walk has been a great way to drive revenue and to engage the community with the businesses in the RiverWalk. Our other key event is Dine the District which is similar to our wine walks but instead of alcoholic beverages, patrons get to sample tasty treats from some of the finest restaurants in town. We are always looking for new events that can bring exposure and more awareness to the merchants and the District.
What businesses are lacking? What would you like to see open? The RiverWalk and Downtown have so much to offer in the way of restaurants, bars and entertainment, what it lacks is retail. We need some key anchor retail stores in downtown. How cool would it be to have an Apple store, Patagonia or Urban Outfitters? You have all these great brands that set their businesses up here to take advantage of our tax structure. They bring their fulfillment centers and back-end operations to this area but fall short on the front end with retail. I wish we could leverage more retail out of the companies that have operations in northern Nevada. If we had one or two of these key anchor stores, many other retailers will follow including a good grocery store, which is another thing we most certainly need downtown.
What are your thoughts on the business climate in Reno for the coming year? I’m really really excited about the business climate in the future. We are all aware of the massive investments being made by the likes of Tesla, Switch and Apple. We also have an emerging drone industry that will provide jobs and opportunities. Northern Nevada is building a solid foundation for economic growth and stability. We are being put on the map and more and more people are discovering what an awesome place this is to live, work and play. I don’t see this trend changing anytime soon and I’m betting that with all this new industry and economic development, were going to sell a few more Reno eNVy t-shirts. ● The RiverWalk district was officially created in 1991 and is one of the oldest and most well-established districts in Downtown.
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Written by Tom Stewart
WELLS AVENUE:
Yesterday, today and tomorrow
W
ells Avenue was not always the busy, vibrant business district it is today.
During the home construction boom in the 1920s, Wells Avenue was still very much a residential street. When Virginia Street /Hwy 395 became congested during the automobile boom after WWII, people began using Wells Avenue as a shortcut from 4th Street to Virginia Street. The increased traffic on Wells Avenue led to a shift from residential to commercial almost overnight. In the four years from 1946 to 1950 the number of commercial businesses on Wells went from eight to 34. Five gas stations sprang up to serve the increase in cars traveling the street during that time — all of which have since been transformed into storefronts or restaurants. Juicys, PJ’s, and even the old structure where Taco John’s sits today were once gas stations. New commercial construction continued on Wells Avenue through the 1970s and 1980s. Today, new investment on Wells Avenue continues. Construction and renovations include the new Reno Little Theater building, Taco John’s new building, Egg Roll King’s remodeled building, and Café Deluxe and apartments, where a historic commercial laundry has been redeveloped into a restaurant, live-work apartments, and a gallery. Luna Maya also renovated its building and sells Mexican art and décor. Some of Wells Avenue district’s newest businesses include: Brothers BBQ, Dodd’s Violin repair, Magpie Coffee Roasters, Eagle Valley Frames, Reno Computer Fix, Pewter Nail Spa, Paleteria Morelia ice cream shop, Funky Furs dog groomers, Picasso and Wine, Reno Magic, FTL Dresses, Joselin y Serena Dance Studio, Helene’s Second Hand Shop, Torn Art Tattoo, Jub Jub’s Thirst Parlor — host of Burning Man events and live music, and IMBIB Custom Brews. The list is long and eclectic, as is the street. There are also non-profits including Restore Smile Dental which just opened on Wells, and the Holland Project, Reno’s only all ages music and art venue, which just announced the purchase of their building on Vesta Street. Businesses under new ownership on the street include Reno Engravers, Blue Salon, and the new shops in the El Mundo Latino building. Wells Avenue today remains a district where starting a small business is still affordable.
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With a great mix of businesses along the mile-long stretch, this district offers products and personalized service that big box stores can’t. In addition to lively yearly events that include the 45-year-old St. Patrick’s Day celebration, the Fiesta on Wells, and PJ’s Wednesday Bike Night, Wells Avenue features 40 retail shops, 13 restaurants, seven pubs & bars, 17 service & repair shops, 15 hair salons, eight tattoo shops, six insurance agents, six real estate agents, four non-profit organizations, and variety of offices. Wells Avenue has a hometown Main Street feel that is welcoming to all. It is pedestrian- and bike-friendly with many cross walks and bike lanes. The new street design, installed in 2004, was chosen by a cooperative effort of residents, city planners and businesses. Since its inception, traffic has slowed, pedestrian and vehicle accidents have been reduced, and businesses now enjoy greater visibility and access by their customers. Since 2000, the Wells Avenue Merchants Association has represented the interests of businesses on the street and continues its role in keeping the street looking clean, friendly and attractive for customers. In the past year, for instance, graffiti has been greatly reduced because of the tireless efforts of volunteers and the association’s work with the city and local law enforcement. Association funds have provided festive, colorful banners that highlight Wells Avenue and its events. The association also organized “The Fiesta on Wells” event in 2008, 2009 and 2010, which, after a five-year hiatus was back in 2015. Organized by the Latin American Chamber of Business, the event this year was attended by thousands and showcased Latino food, drink, entertainment and assorted services along a six-block stretch of Wells Avenue. As in past years, it was a huge success and plans are in the making to keep this an annual event. Tom Stewart is owner of Truckee Meadow Herbs health supplement store. He started his business on Wells Avenue in 1982 and is the past president of the Wells Avenue Merchants & Property Owners Association. Also contributing to this article was Wells Neighborhood historian Barrie Schuster.
A diverse mix of area residents has always been critical to the business success on Wells Avenue as both patrons and proprietors. During the 30s, 40s, and 50s, for instance, a large Italian population adopted the area and businesses served the Italian-speaking customer. Today, Hispanic businesses, which make up about 10 percent of the shops along Wells, now serve the Spanish-speaking customer. Hosting a quinceañera for example is convenient on Wells Avenue as all the party supplies and venues are available on the street. Three Hispanic grocery stores serve the Latino community: Marketon, Murillos and El Tapatio. A very popular juice bar called Antojitos and the new ice cream shop Paletería Morelia, has become very popular with kids and grownups alike. As with many of the shops on Wells, those catering to the Hispanic community are mostly family owned and operated. Most recently, a new, eclectic mix of young families, first-time homebuyers, and business owners are bringing new energy
Liberty, continued from page 17 “Monster Fish has been our entree into a longer term, more formal relationship with UNR. It has opened the door to many other conversations as to what’s next, what we can do,” said Sinclair. “We’re eager to see how this relationship evolves. Pulling industry and higher education into the museum is a pretty exciting opportunity.” Like Walker, Sinclair relocated to Reno from a larger urban environment, and sees value in looking toward his hometown as a case study for success. “Reno’s districts are smaller by comparison, but remind me of the Pearl District in Portland [Oregon], a hip, thriving metropolitan living space, mixed-use, high-end portion of town,” said Sinclair. He says 20 years ago the area was a graveyard of industrial buildings. Through strong leadership committed to taking the long view, investors finally bought into the urban renewal, a trend Sinclair sees happening in Reno.
to the area by making the Wells neighborhood their place of business and their home. Because of the variety and sense of community on Wells Avenue, customers always feel welcome. You can do many different things in one trip. In one afternoon and evening, for instance, you can wash your car, get a tattoo while your dog is at the groomer, buy a parakeet, have your trophy engraved, buy a wedding dress, stop in at bike night, have a gourmet meal, and get a drink at any one of the local neighborhood bars. Later, go see an art exhibit or a play. Thirteen restaurants offer a wide selection of choices: Salvadorian, Mexican, Chinese, American, Vegetarian, fine-dining, food trucks, and fast food for those on the run. Community spirit and neighborhood pride keep the Wells Avenue business district alive and authentic. Spend an afternoon on Wells Avenue and you’ll discover fun and unique shops in a historic business district that is truly a treasured secret by locals. ●
Blake Smith, managing partner of One East Liberty LLC, has championed the downtown core for some time and says now is the time for Reno to be visionary. The Liberty District’s new developments along with bustling activity throughout neighboring districts catalyze the momentum of the whole city. “Each district serves one another,” Smith said. “Each is like a child, but each serves and promotes one another.” Smith set up shop in the Liberty District a few years ago because he saw it as the “heart and engine of the business community,” anchored by education and culture. He says expansions like the Sky Room signify the soul of the city and are necessary ingredients to take Reno to the next level. “The downtown core is revitalizing, but it’s the beginning stages,” Smith reflected. “It will be totally different in the next five to 10 years.” ● — Amanda Horn is the director of communications for the Nevada Museum of Art, and serves on a committee steering the Liberty District toward success.
“We have all the ingredients, just need to keep an eye on long range planning,” Sinclair said. The University of Nevada, Reno’s Innevation Center, powered by Switch, is a dynamic hub of innovation and commercialization in downtown Reno. Students and researchers are seen here in the center’s 3D Lab, which houses 11 3D printers and 15 modeling stations. Photo provided by the University of Nevada, Reno.
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